The recent spotting of a Persian leopard near Balochistan’s Nani Mandir has fascinated both visitors and conservationists, highlighting the elusive presence of this majestic animal in the area.
A visitor at Nani Mandir, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site nestled within the picturesque Hingol National Park along the Makran coast in southwestern Balochistan, spotted the leopard. The sighting, a rare occurrence after many years, generated excitement among onlookers and conservationists.
As per Sharifuddin Baloch, Chief Conservator of Wildlife of Balochistan, the leopard was spotted by a visitor who captured the majestic creature on a cliff opposite Nani Mandir. The Persian leopard, locally referred to as “phulang,” is indigenous to the Hingol National Park but is rarely encountered due to its elusive behavior.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, a technical adviser with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), underscored the significance of the Persian leopard’s presence in Balochistan. He highlighted that these leopards were once widespread in various parts of Balochistan, particularly in coastal regions. However, factors such as hunting and habitat loss, leading to a decrease in prey populations like wild goats, urial goats, and chinkara gazelles, have contributed to the decline of the leopard population.
Consequently, Persian leopards are now classified as endangered species, stressing the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard these magnificent creatures and their habitats in Balochistan. The rare sighting near Nani Mandir serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between human activities and the preservation of biodiversity in the region.
